Hyundai is recalling hundreds of thousands of 2020–2025 Palisade SUVs across North America after discovering a potential problem with the vehicle’s third-row side curtain airbags. The recall affects nearly 613,000 vehicles in the United States and Canada, with regulators warning that rear-seat occupants may not receive the level of protection expected during certain crashes.
The recall has been announced through the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Transport Canada. While Hyundai says a repair is being developed, owners are encouraged to confirm whether their SUV is included and wait for official repair instructions.
What is the problem?
The issue involves the side curtain airbags designed to protect passengers seated in the third row during certain side-impact or rollover crashes. According to Hyundai and safety regulators, these airbags may not deploy as intended, which could increase the risk of injury if a qualifying collision occurs.
Side curtain airbags play an important role in reducing head injuries by creating a protective barrier between occupants and the vehicle’s side windows. If they fail to deploy correctly, passengers sitting in the rearmost seats may receive less protection than the vehicle was designed to provide.
Hyundai says the recall was initiated after compliance testing identified concerns that the airbag system may not fully meet federal safety requirements.
How many vehicles are affected?
| Region | Vehicles affected | Model years | Issue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | Nearly 44,000 | 2020–2025 | Third-row side curtain airbags may not deploy properly |
| United States | Nearly 569,000 | 2020–2025 | Potential improper deployment of third-row side curtain airbags |
In total, almost 613,000 Hyundai Palisade SUVs are included in the recall. U.S. recall documents state that the affected airbag assemblies were supplied by Swedish automotive safety manufacturer Autoliv.
Why the recall matters
Safety recalls are often issued before widespread failures occur. Manufacturers may begin a recall after engineering evaluations, supplier reviews, regulatory testing, or internal investigations identify a component that may not perform as intended.
For the Palisade, the concern centers on passenger safety rather than everyday vehicle performance. Drivers are unlikely to notice any warning signs because the issue relates to crash protection rather than a mechanical fault.
Since the Palisade is widely used as a family SUV, the recall has drawn particular attention because it involves protection for children and adults who frequently ride in the third row.
What owners should do now
Owners should check whether their vehicle is included by entering their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) through Hyundai’s official recall service or the government recall databases.
Hyundai says owners will receive notification letters explaining the next steps once a permanent repair has been finalized. Until then, dealerships may not yet have replacement parts or updated repair procedures.
If your family regularly uses the third-row seats, you may wish to adjust seating arrangements until the recall remedy becomes available, particularly during longer trips.
Previous Palisade recalls
This is not the first major safety campaign involving Hyundai’s flagship SUV. Earlier this year, Hyundai announced another recall affecting certain Palisade models over a different safety concern involving the power-operated rear seats. You can read more about the earlier Hyundai Palisade safety recall involving power seats.
Vehicle recalls are a normal part of the automotive industry, but owners should treat them seriously because they address components that may affect occupant safety during an accident.
For the latest recall information, owners can visit the NHTSA recall database or the Transport Canada recall database to check their VIN and monitor repair updates.
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